Segmented fluid end

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved segmented fluid end for high-pressure plunger pumps. One segmented fluid end includes one or more fluid end modules, each fluid end module including a body providing a plunger bore configured to receive a plunger therein and a discharge outlet in fluid communication with the plunger bore, wherein a pressurized working fluid may exit the body of each fluid end module via the discharge outlet, a discharge manifold having an elongate manifold body configured to be operatively coupled to each fluid end module, the manifold body providing a first end, a second end, a discharge bore extending between the first and second ends, and one or more discharge inlets that fluidly communicate with the discharge bore, and a ring joint gasket arranged between each discharge inlet of the discharge manifold and a corresponding discharge outlet of the one or more fluid end modules.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A segmented fluid end, comprising:
 one or more fluid end modules, each fluid end module including a body providing a plunger bore configured to receive a plunger therein and a discharge outlet in fluid communication with the plunger bore, wherein a pressurized working fluid may exit the body of each fluid end module via the discharge outlet; 
 a discharge manifold having an elongate manifold body configured to be operatively coupled to each fluid end module, the manifold body providing a first end, a second end, a discharge bore extending between the first and second ends, and one or more discharge inlets that fluidly communicate with the discharge bore; 
 a strain bolt assembly configured to preload the body of each fluid end module, wherein the strain bolt assembly comprises one or more strain bolts configured to extend through opposing sides of the body; and 
 a ring joint gasket arranged between each discharge inlet of the discharge manifold and a corresponding discharge outlet of the one or more fluid end modules. 
 
     
     
       2. The segmented fluid end of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a module seal groove extending about the discharge outlet of each fluid end module; and 
 one or more discharge seal grooves defined on the manifold body, each discharge seal groove extending about a corresponding discharge inlet, wherein each ring joint gasket is at least partially received within each adjacent module seal grooves and discharge seal grooves and configured to laterally align the manifold body with each fluid end module. 
 
     
     
       3. The segmented fluid end of  claim 2 , wherein each ring joint gasket is at least one of a soft iron API ring and an elastomeric sealing element, and the ring joint gasket is configured to seal an interface between the manifold body and each fluid end module. 
     
     
       4. The segmented fluid end of  claim 2 , wherein the ring joint gasket is one of annular or polygonal in shape. 
     
     
       5. The segmented fluid end of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction manifold having an elongate suction body operatively and fluidly coupled to each of the fluid end modules. 
     
     
       6. The segmented fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold body is fastened to the body of each fluid end module using one or more mechanical fasteners that extend through the manifold body and are received by one or more corresponding holes defined in the body of each fluid end module. 
     
     
       7. The segmented fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein the body of each fluid end module defines a ledge configured to seat a portion of the discharge manifold and thereby vertically align the discharge inlets with each discharge outlet. 
     
     
       8. The segmented fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge outlet of each fluid end module is defined on a front surface of the body of each fluid end module and the discharge manifold is coupled to the front surface of the body of each fluid end module. 
     
     
       9. The segmented fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger bore is a horizontal bore and the body further defines a vertical bore, and
 wherein the one or more strain bolts of the strain bolt assembly are configured to extend through opposing sides of the body at or near an intersection between the horizontal and vertical bores; and 
 wherein the strain bolt assembly further comprises:
 a plurality of nuts configured to be threadably received on one or both ends of each of the one or more strain bolts and configured to secure the one or more strain bolts within the body; 
 wherein the one or more strain bolts are configured to be torqued to a predetermined tensile value by threaded engagement with the plurality of nuts to preload the horizontal and vertical bores. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more strain bolts of the strain bolt assembly are configured to extend through opposing sides of the body in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the plunger bore. 
     
     
       11. A method of operating a segmented fluid end, comprising:
 reciprocating a plunger within a plunger bore defined within a body of one or more fluid end modules, wherein the plunger bore is a horizontal bore and the body of each fluid end module further defines a vertical bore; 
 preloading an intersection between the horizontal and vertical bores in each fluid end module by extending one or more strain bolts through opposing sides of the body of each fluid end module; 
 discharging a pressurized working fluid via a discharge outlet defined in each body of the one or more fluid end modules; 
 receiving the pressurized working fluid with a discharge manifold having an elongate manifold body coupled to the body of each fluid end module, the manifold body providing a first end, a second end, a discharge bore extending between the first and second ends, and one or more discharge inlets that fluidly communicate with the discharge bore and a corresponding discharge outlet of each fluid end module; and 
 laterally aligning each discharge inlet of the discharge manifold with the corresponding discharge outlet of each fluid end module with a corresponding ring joint gasket arranged between each discharge inlet and the corresponding discharge outlet. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein a module seal groove extends about the discharge outlet of each fluid end module and each discharge inlet includes a corresponding discharge seal groove defined thereabout, the method further comprising arranging the corresponding ring joint gasket at least partially within adjacent module seal grooves and discharge seal grooves. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 fastening the manifold body to the body of each fluid end module using one or more mechanical fasteners; and 
 sealing an interface between the discharge manifold and the body of each fluid end module with the ring joint gasket as the mechanical fasteners are torqued, wherein the ring joint gasket is at least one of a soft iron API ring and an elastomeric sealing element. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising seating a portion of the discharge manifold on a ledge defined on the body of each fluid end module, and thereby vertically aligning the one or more discharge inlets with the discharge outlet of each fluid end module. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the discharge outlet of each fluid end module is defined on a front surface of the body of each fluid end module, the method further comprising coupling the discharge manifold to the front surface of the body of each fluid end module. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein preloading the intersection between the horizontal and vertical bores further comprises:
 extending the one or more strain bolts through opposing sides of the body of each fluid end module at or near the intersection between the horizontal and vertical bores; 
 threadably attaching nuts at one or both ends of each of the one or more strain bolts; and 
 torqueing each of the one or more strain bolts to a predetermined tensile value. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein extending one or more strain bolts through opposing sides of the body of each fluid end module further comprises extending the one or more strain bolts through opposing sides of the body of each fluid end module in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the plunger bore. 
     
     
       18. A pump, comprising:
 a power end; 
 at least two fluid end modules arranged in a side-by side relationship and operatively coupled to the power end, each fluid end module including a body providing a plunger bore configured to receive a plunger therein and a discharge outlet in fluid communication with the plunger bore, wherein a pressurized working fluid may exit the body of each fluid end module via the discharge outlet, and wherein the plunger bore is a horizontal bore and the body further defines a vertical bore; 
 a discharge manifold having an elongated manifold body configured to be operatively coupled to the at least two fluid end modules, the manifold body providing a first end, a second end, a discharge bore extending between the first and second ends, and one or more discharge inlets that fluidly communicate with the discharge bore; 
 a strain bolt assembly configured to preload the body of each fluid end module, wherein the strain bolt assembly comprises:
 one or more strain bolts configured to extend through the body at or near intersection between the horizontal and vertical bores; and 
 nuts threadably received at one or both ends of each of the one or more strain bolts and configured to secure the one or more strain bolts within the body, wherein the one or more strain bolts are torqued to a predetermined tensile value in order to preload the horizontal and vertical bores and thereby reduce hoop stress therein; and 
 
 a ring joint gasket arranged between each discharge inlet of the discharge manifold and a corresponding discharge outlet of the one or more fluid end modules. 
 
     
     
       19. The pump of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a module seal groove extending about the discharge outlet of each fluid end module; and 
 one or more discharge seal grooves defined on the manifold body, each discharge seal groove extending about a corresponding discharge inlet, wherein each ring joint gasket is at least partially received within each adjacent module seal groove and discharge seal groove and configured to laterally align the manifold body with each fluid end module. 
 
     
     
       20. The pump of  claim 19 , wherein the ring joint gasket is at least one of a soft iron API ring and an elastomeric sealing element, and wherein the ring joint gasket is configured to provide a fluid tight interface between adjacent discharge outlets and discharge inlets. 
     
     
       21. The pump of  claim 18 , further comprising a suction manifold having an elongate suction body operatively and fluidly coupled to each of the at least two fluid end modules. 
     
     
       22. The pump of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more strain bolts of the strain bolt assembly are configured to extend through the body in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the plunger bore.